B Movies Blog

Hello, movie mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping The Ashlee Simpson Show into the ol’ VCR. 

Don’t ask me how, but MTV has, yet again, crept its way onto the B Movies Blog. 

And this time I’m bringing a real gem up from the depths. 

That’s right, friends… 

We’re talking about The Ashlee Simpson Show.

From June 2004 – March 2005, MTV gave us an in-depth look at Ashlee Simpson’s life, which included everything from learning how to clean an apartment to recording Autobiography. 

(And don’t worry, I already have an LCA for Autobiography in the works.) 

Video source: Piecesofashlee33

Now, I want to go ahead and address the elephants in the room. 

Yes, Ashlee Simpson was 19 when the show started, and yes, that’s extremely exploitative. 

I know she was legally an adult, but she was a TEENAGER. 

Also, Ryan Cabrera has been proven to allegedly be a piece of shit. 

Also also, her producers praise her for writing a song about dating a guy older than her? Like, double her age?

So, it’s not great. 

Additionally, the entire point of the show was just to get exposure for her album. 

Needless to say, it was a quintessential, problematic early 2000s reality show. 

It also…kind of makes me sad to watch because it’s clear that Ashlee desperately wants to step out of Jessica’s shadow (which, uh, the song “Shadow” is about), and it feels icky to watch. 

Especially when you realize that The Ashlee Simpson Show had the time slot directly following Newlyweds. 

She even has a terrible boyfriend named Josh for a hot minute who openly treats her like hot garbage for as long as he’s in the picture (which is one episode that ends with a montage of their time together after they break up as Ashlee sings “Unreachable”). 

Because, if you know your lore, she begins dating Ryan Cabrera. 

And, her family kind of treats her like trash, to boot?

I honestly feel bad for her. 

Sure, I more than understand that she has HELLA privilege, but I just feel like they’re really exploiting a teenage girl who’s trying to find herself. 

They also cover the SNL incident, and again, I feel horrible for her because it’s clear she wasn’t feeling well. 

I guess I’ve become an Ashlee Simpson sympathizer in my old age?

(Just in some of the context of the show and not for anything problematic she’s done, to clarify.) 

I digress. 

If you want to reminisce about the early aughts (and give yourself full-body cringes), I’d recommend watching all of the episodes, which, surprisingly, are super easy to find on YouTube. 

In fact, you can find all of the episodes on this handy playlist on Ashlee Simpson Music’s channel. 

Are there any other old reality shows you’d like me to dive into?

Baby, just ask me.